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Summary: Powerful coming-of-age story
Review: This trilogy (Magic's Pawn, Magic's Promise, Magic's Price) is one of my very favorites. Magic's Promise takes Vanyel through his adolecent stage, from rebelling against his family (who really need rebelling against!), to discovering his true love, to discovering his own power, through great pain and hardship. Vanyel endures more than anyone should have to endure. This is one of those books that keep you awake at night because you NEED TO KNOW what happens next!The book is set in the same universe as the Arrows Trilogy, Winds trilogy, and Owls trilogy, but about a thousand years earlier. It's a good idea to read these books BEFORE you read the Winds trilogy, and I won't spoil it by telling you why. I would recommend this book to adults, but also to teenagers who are struggling with their own identity. I believe it won an award from a gay and lesbian literary society, because of its wonderful portrayal of both straight and gay loving relationships.
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Summary: The best Lackey series *I've* read...
Review: Not that I've read them all, mind you. A warning: don't read this book if you're overly sensitive to same-sex relationships, as their presence is pretty darn un-ignorable in this series. Arrows of the Queen is another good series which only has brief mentions of them, and I don't believe that the Mage Winds series has any (but don't hold me to that). On the other hand, for those of you who, like me, aren't particularly bothered by that sort of thing, this is a superb book, as are the others in the series (really, the series is just one long book broken up). The characters are believable and interesting, and the plot moves quickly, with enough substance and variety in it to keep it from seeming particularly contrived. Overall, Mrs. Lackey does a very good job of keeping the reader interested and emotionally invested in the book. The only major fault is that it's a little lacking in depth, but there are plenty of better places than novels to get *that* from.
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Summary: Shay¿a¿chern for stars
Review: This is a kinda gushy story, what i mean is i get gushy, not the story or the people in it. It's not an adventure story like most fantasy stories, but something like a love story combined with a story about growing up. Basically, it's about Vanyel Ashkevron, who grew up in an unloving household. His father sends him to live with his aunt, the Herald-Mage Savil. There he meets his lifebonded, Tylendel, who later dies in an accident which unlocks Van's full powers. The only problem is, Van is deeply scarred by the accident and the rest of the book tells of how Savil cures that, by taking him to the home of Starwind and Moondance k'Treva, who are tayledras/Hawkbrothers. They are the ones who finally bring Van out of his self-inflicted isolation and cure him of his guilt.
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Summary: Drama, Suspence, Comedy, It has it all.
Review: If you are an open-minded person who enjoys books that are noticably different in style, this is the book for you. As you have probably found out from other reviewers, the main character Vanyel, is homosexual. This was the first series I have ever read with such a character and I loved how Mercedes let it be a point of internal conflict for young Vanyel, but it was one of several conflicts taking place all at once. This style makes Vanyel come truly alive in the book. We see him as he truly is, a human being trying to understand who and what he is, and trying to fit in with what society (his family) says should be. It struck a strong chord in me, coming from a family who was as close-minded and conservative as his family and faced with issues that always seemed on the verge of overwelming me while I was growing up. Read this book...its addictive and feel free to write me and tell me your thoughts. Craig
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Summary: A book that will change your life...
Review: ...or at least your view of life! I read this book after finding it at a garage sale; it was already dog-eared from many readings. Many, many readings of my own later, I know why! Lackey weaves a web of magick and tales of another land, Valdemar, so perfectly. The adventures of the youth named Vanyel are very believable and the reader immediately sympathizes with this character. You feel right there at his shoulder as he has to deal with a brutish father, exile from his family, and learns of a new and heart-wrenching love for another man. Toss in superbly-orchistrated fantasy based in a loosely-renaissance time period, and you have a book that I guarantee you will read over and over!
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Summary: Truly Magical
Review: Each series brings more of the main character forward. Being a devoted Fantatsy fan myself, I loved this book and it's twist with magic. Mercedes Lackey has become one of my favorite Fantasy writers. Even though my library has the first two books of this series, and not the last, I'm still determined to get the last book. The first two were just too good, I can't beleive there's a LAST one. They just make my heart lurch everytime something happens with magic and I cant tear my eyes away from the pages. Mercedes Lackey tells it with such magic.
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Summary: My Oh MY
Review: This book drew me in from the start and I was somewhat disappointed when the series ended. Yeah, maybe cause I am gay i connected that much to Vanyel but man Ms. Lackey really knows what it is like to be gay and I hope that those people who read this understnad and become more tolerant. Overall this book is really wonderul and has led me to delve into the entire series. Love how she really makes you understand all characters and what is going on.
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Summary: Magic's Pawn
Review: Okay, first of all, it's true Van is gay, but that is not the main point in the story so will everyone stop focusing on it!(I will admit however, after reading this series, I have become much more tolerant and understanding of them) This book is basically about a boy-Van-who is going through a difficult adolescence and trying to discover himself. Then, when his lover dies, he is tranformed into this amazing herald mage with unheard of powers. Plus, he gains a great white horse, Yfandes for a friend.(I love her! I would want her for a friend!) It sounds sorta hooky I know. But give it a try. You will sooo NOT regret it. I must have tear stains all over the pages when 'Lendel dies. So please go out and get it!
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Summary: Magic's Pawn
Review: I have read (and bought) nearly every one of Lackey's Valdemar books, but this one (and the other two with Vanyel) are my very favorites. The storyline and the emotional charge just grab you and you become very attached. You will find yourself wanting to re-read this book and the next 2 over and over.
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Summary: Magic's Pawn (& the full Last Herald Mage set)
Review: A great fantasy world with a complexity that is hard to find. The author's treatment of her gay main character is done with such sensitivity that I was able to relate to Vanyel on a very deep level, something I don't expect from a fantasy novel. The story is exciting and touching, her world is vivid. Magic's Pawn is the first Lackey book I read. I have since read the rest of her work. Please do not think of this as a "gay" book however. It is a great fantasy book. If you like fantasy you will like this series of books.
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